Can the Bulldogs put together a deep run in the Class 3A playoffs kicking off this week? RB appears to be a good bet for a solid postseason run, especially considering the surging Bulldogs won all six of their games last week to close the regular season.
“The team is really coming together,” third baseman Kiley Rusen said about RB, which finished 24-7 on the regular season. “We’re playing solid defense and getting timely hits. We just played our best two games [of the season] against tough opponents.”
Rusen’s referring to the Bulldogs’ 2-1 victory against Plainfield South 2-1 and 1-0 over Downers Grove North. RB defeated Plainfield South at the Stone City Jamboree in Minooka as Kylie O’Connell tossed a complete game five-hitter and Emily Hastings (home run) and Annabelle Gardiner (double, game-winning RBI) provided just enough offensive support. O’Connell struck again verse Downers North with a three-hit complete game gem. Rusen scored in the first inning off an Emily Hastings line drive hit.
“I’m really impressed with how we’ve been playing,” O’Connell said. “Our winning streak really has given us a boost of confidence for the playoffs.”
Regional host RB opens the playoffs against Hubbard on Tuesday, May 22. A victory advances the Bulldogs to Saturday’s 2 p.m. RB Regional title game vs. the winner of Kennedy-King at Veterans Park in North Riverside.
